Anyone own a Forester?

[pluto]

Hi all, I'm thinking of buying an MY06 Subaru Forester with about 140,000 kms on it. It's had the cam belt changed as scheduled but I'm not sure about head gasket issues. Just wanted to ask if any owners can shed some light on what to expect regarding things breaking / wearing out and reliability and servicing in general?

Thanks

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

Generally Subies after 2005 were free of the chronic head gasket problems as they changed the design and supplier. However the engine will not tolerate neglect at all, and you must be religious about oil and filter changes. Look for a good service record on paper.

Cheers

[pluto]

Thanks Geoff!

[MrB]

Yep...
Oil and filter every 5000k
Oil and filter every 5000k
Oil and filter every 5000k
Oil and filter every 5000k
Oil and filter every 5000k

That should have sunk in by now ;)
(I drive a WRX)

[pluto]

Thanks Simon

[lepton3]

I've had a Subaru of one form or another for the last 14 years. I personally don't think there is a more durable 4 cylinder engine in the mainstream. But as others have said, they must have filter and oil changed every 5000 km or 6 months.

Not noted for their quality upholstery or hard wearing interior, but engine / transmission wise I would have no trouble recommending a Forester.

-Ivan

[MrB]

Sadly for me, it's about every two to three months.
I need a job closer to home :(

[Tinderboxsky]

We have had a 2001 Forrester since new. It has been the family car through the teenage years and has come through the experience in remarkably good shape. We have found it an excellent, robust all round vehicle. I have ensured it is properly serviced and it has been totally reliable with no major work required.
It has just ticked over 200,000 klms. The engine feels nicely "run in" now. There are no oil leaks or other signs of aging anywhere in the car. As others have said, look for one with a fully documented service history. Not sure about others comments re oil and filter service every 5,000 klm. The Subaru service interval for the Forrester is 12,500 klms, which I have stuck to.

Cheers

Steve.

[gary]

Agree with others about their reliability. At that many km's, get a check of
the brakes. If still the originals, the disks may need re-machining or possible
replacement. NRMA will charge about $1090 for replacement of all four brakes including labour.

[pluto]

Thanks for the advice guys.
I'm going to have an NRMA inspection done on it before I go ahead. Also it's pretty cheap so if I have to spend a grand or two in the next year or so I won't mind, in fact as this car is a bit cheaper than my current car that I'm selling I'll put some money away just for repairs if needed.

Also I'm a bit surprised that the insurance is more expensive for the Forester than it is on my current 2 seater convertible go-cart ...I mean car. I really would have thought that a family car would be cheaper than a sports car...?

[Kunama]

Just sold my old Sub Liberty with 470,000 klms on the clock, just started to use a bit of oil, my wife has a 2002 Liberty which now has 116,000 no problems. But yes, they do like to have clean oil, and if it is an auto, they like the oil in the box warm before you really drive them hard.

I did have to replace the front CV shafts on the old suby, a very easy job and about $170 per side. Parts are easily available. Here in the Snowys they are referred to as the "Jindabyne Kingswood" everyone has one.

[Scorpius51]

I have had my Forrester since new in 2003 and it has been a great vehicle to own - the best I've had so far. It's just clocked over 112,000 km. Regularly serviced by a Subaru service/dealer @ 12,500 km intervals. No leaks, no problems, cam belt changed @ 100,000 km (that was a recommendation - not a requirement!).

Only down side is city consumption drops to ~ 2/3 of highway rate.

Plenty of room for the important things in life - like biggish Dobs, or EQ mounted Newts, etc!

Cheers
John

[pluto]

Thanks for the info Matt and John!
I must admit that telescope / mount transport, and driving to somewhere to use them, is the primary reason for me moving to a practical car :)

[MrB]

A few of my mates are mechanics(and race/rally drivers) and all say 5000, one of them is a very close friend, an excellent mechanic, and I trust him implicitly.
Another, a friend of a friend (close friend is his co-driver) works on nothing but Subi's (http://www.stechnic.com.au/) and he also says every 5000. None of them are making money off me as I do my own minor services, except for a major service soon at Stechnic.

I do remember many, many years ago, reading a report(don't remember from whom) that most oil filters are essentially useless after ~5000km as the filter is basically blocked and the oil is then flowing thru the filters bypass valve, therefore the oil isn't getting filtered at all!

You should see how miniscule the filter is on these Subi engines! If you are familiar with Ryco filters, it is the same size as the Z436... infact, on the EJ20's you can use the Z436.



I would say it is a requirement.
I don't know about the other subi engines, but definitely for the EJ20 series engines.
The EJ20's are not free spinners, that is, if the cam belt goes... the pistons and valves will be fighting for the same space and no-one wins, especially not your wallet.
I have heard of an EJ20 doing 160,000 without a timing belt change, but that is very risky.

[pluto]

That's good to know, I think I'll err on the side of caution and change the oil + filter every 5k.

Also I have just moved and hadn't updated my address for my insurance so I think it's my new suburb that's causing the insurance to be more expensive with the Forester.

[TechnoViking]

This is a funny little story...

I moved from canberra to the far southcoast almost 5 years ago, and started a job at a local company in Bega. On my first outing with the boss we got stuck behind a Forester going just over 60kph on the highway. I heard my boss mutter "^$#&ing poor mans volvo!"
Since then i have heard that expression over a dozen times from all kinds of different people, im guessing its due to the fact that down here there are thousands of foresters?.

Im starting to notice almost every time i go into Bega (100km round trip) i seem to always get stuck behind one, now im not driving a very fast car, its a Toyota Echo, and im a 6'3" 100kg+ man so it has a topspeed of 100kph lol :D
is it just down here that forester drivers drive like snails (60-80kph the highway) or does this happen everywhere? or am i just noticing it more because of the "Poor mans Volvo" comment i first heard?

i dont mean to offend anyone with this post, i just found it very amusing :D

[pluto]

Haha, I promise I'll always do the speed limit James :D
I can't stand getting stuck behind someone doing 30 km/h under the limit so would never do that to others. After all, the road is there to share :)

Also just checked the exact numbers and even with the change of address the insurance for the Forester will still be slightly more expensive than my current car... strange...

[The Mekon]

I have been using an 04 model belonging to an elderly friend for some months now. I find it low on power compared to my wife's Honda Euro, and undeserving of its name "Forester" The couple of times I have used it in the bush (State Forests) on well made dirt roads it has lacked traction and almost got stuck once due to wheel slippage. So stick to the tarmac on road type tyres. Fuel consumption is not too good either. Reliability wise the elderly friend just had to pay $2000 for centre diff repairs. He had neglected servicing though so this may be the reason.

[MrB]

More than likely due to tyres as you suggested, but while they are all-wheel-drive, the basic model Forester's are also open-wheelers. Upper-end models(and WRX's) come with factory LSD's. (Limited Slip Differentials)

[blindman]

I had Forester for 13 years, not 1 fault.
Still have roof rack, so if you will need one PM me.

[LewisM]

Always said the next family car was either going to be a VW Passat wagon (we currently have a Passat sedan), Nissan Murano or Subaru Forester.

The Passat is a 2003 model, currently got 300,000 on the clock, and needed the CV's and rod arms done at 250,000, and the accessory belt pooped itself at 270,000. Not a single niggle or problem since. Oil change.... errr.... around 10,000 km at the moment. Doesn't use a DROP of oil (check it weekly, haven't added ANY since the accessory belt change (just in case - I did have to drive it about 0.5km without it!)

Love my VW's.... but could be twist-armed into a Murano... depending on the financial front. Time will tell. We have had the Passat a good while now, so it may be time (or let me keep the Passat for myself and drive it into the ground dear wife :D)

I like the Subies, but have heard (and seen) wheel bearing issues - mainly the rear ones. Any truth?

[Larryp]

Guy next door has a Forester, and he has had problems with rear wheel bearings. He also had trouble with it wearing out tyres quickly, but apparently Subaru came up with a fix for that.

[h0ughy]

I have a 2004 forester, briliant car and i have punished it with overloading and then some, its travelled very well to qld and back several times now and have 159000 on the clock - owned it from new. the tyres i have on it are coopers - they were installed at 90000km and they are still going strong!! have regular serviced the car at ultra tune from new and had the timing belt done at the 150000k mark as per the manual. would i get another forester - yes but i would test drive it well first as they are not like the one i have now. I have now driven an xtrail - i can tell you a forester leaves it for dead for handling and driving ability. BTW it is a manual. those at astrofest have seen the little beasty.......with trailer "fully loaded" fuel is generally around the 10l/100k

[Scorpius51]

This Forrester driver is no snail! Not a lead-foot either! But I do get caught behind Volvos :rolleyes:. I've never heard the saying before. I'd rather a Subaru any day.

Cheers
John